World Vision’s Liz Mullen and the Epenarra Artists were recently invited to travel from their home in the Northern Territory to participate in an International Women’s Day exhibition in Cessnock, NSW.

The exhibition, titled “Strong Women, Strong Painting, Strong Culture”, acknowledged the achievements of Indigenous women artists from across the Central and Western Deserts who are using art to keep their culture and communities strong.

Work by 40 leading Indigenous women painters, fibre artists and print makers from the private collection of curators Deb Simms and Matt Dickson was exhibited. It included a piece by Epenarra Artist Julie Peterson.

Kaye and Gladys Beasley were chosen by the Epenarra Art group to attend and speak about the journey their art group has been on over the past 18 months. Deb and Matt praised the contribution that Gladys and Kaye made to the event.

“Kaye and Gladys spoke beautifully and very movingly about their art centre and how important it is in keeping their community and their Alyawarr Culture strong,” they wrote.

“Kaye and Gladys built some very strong bridges. And the artists even sold most of the paintings and naturally dyed silk scarves that they brought with them from Wutunugurra!”

Liz Mullen, World Vision’s Indigenous Arts Project Manager, said this was the first occasion that members of the Epenarra Art group have presented in public. For most people this is a daunting experience and these women had the added challenge of speaking in English, which is a second language for them.

The “Strong Women, Strong Painting, Strong Culture” exhibition will be on show at the Casula Powerhouse Art Centre in southwest Sydney from 24 June to 7 August 2011.

The Epenarra Artists receive support from World Vision’s Indigenous Art Project, which aims to raise the socio-economic status of Indigenous artists and their families through the development of sustainable community art enterprises.

The artists’ travel was paid for through rapid response funding made available through the Northern Territory Government.

World Vision’s Indigenous Arts Project works closely with Barkly Regional Arts in Tennant Creek and other organisations such as Desart, Barkly Shire and Charles Darwin University. Funding for this project has been received from The Department of Premier and Cabinet, supporting Indigenous Australian cultural activities. The project has also attracted two major private donors and also relies on donations from the general public. Further funding is needed for its expansion.

Take a look at short video on the Epenarra Artists.